China Opposes Armed Intervention Or Forced “Regime Change” In Syria

BEIJING: China said on Friday that its stance on the violence in Syria will “withstand the test of history.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the remarks at a regular press briefing.

China’s opposition to a draft resolution on Syria at the UN General Assembly was given the proper consideration and was already explained by China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Wang Min on Thursday.

China opposes armed intervention or forcing a so-called “regime change” in Syria, Wang said after casting a vote against the resolution.

The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution supporting a political transition in Syria and calling for the appointment of a UN special envoy to the Middle Eastern country.

The draft resolution, which was drawn up by Saudi Arabia and introduced to the General Assembly by Egypt, was adopted with a vote of 137-12, with 17 abstentions.

“We have repeatedly expressed China’s position on the Syrian issue. China has no intention of offering asylum or patronage to anyone,” Liu said.

Liu said China’s stance not only focuses on addressing the current difficulties in Syria, but also features a long-term perspective on preserving the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and relevant international norms.

“We condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians and urge the government and all political factions of Syria to immediately and fully end all acts of violence, and quickly restore stability and the normal social order,” Wang said in explanatory remarks after casting a negative vote on a draft resolution on Syria at the UN General Assembly.

China calls on the Syrian government to seriously heed the people’s legitimate desire for reform and development, and calls on the various political factions to express their political aspirations nonviolently under the rule of law, Wang said.

The Chinese government consistently pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to upholding regional and world peace and stability, Wang said, adding China has closely followed the developments of the situation and is deeply worried about the escalating crisis that has caused civilian casualties and affected peace and stability in the region.

“We urge all parties concerned in Syria to immediately launch inclusive political dialogue with no preconditions and jointly discuss a comprehensive political reform plan and mechanism,” he said.

The ambassador said China calls for a referendum on the draft of a new Constitution and parliamentary election at an early date and establishment of a national unity government participated by various factions.

China understands the concern of Arab countries and the Arab League (AL) on seeking a quick solution to the Syrian issue, and values the important role as well as the efforts of Arab countries and the AL in seeking a political solution to the issue, he said.

Wang said China appreciates efforts made by Arab countries and the AL for a political solution to the Syrian issue, which China hopes will be resolved within the framework of the AL through political and peaceful means.

“We believe that the international community should fully respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, the independent choice of the Syrian people, as well as the result of political dialogue among various parties of Syria,” he said.

“We do not believe that sanctions or the threat of sanctions is helpful to achieving an appropriate solution.” Wang said.

Actions of the international community and the United Nations on the Syrian issue should help ease tensions, facilitate political dialogue and resolve differences, he said.

“Such actions, instead of complicating the issue, should be helpful to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and upholding unity of the international community,” Wang said.

UNITED NATIONS: Wang Min, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, following the UN General Assembly’s vote on the Syria draft resolution, delivered a statement on Thursday to elaborate on China’s position of the document.

“The Chinese government consistently pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to upholding regional and world peace and stability. China has followed closely the developments of the situation in Syria, and is deeply worried about the escalating crisis in the country which has caused civilian casualties and affected peace and stability in the Middle East region,” Wang said.

China condemns all acts of violence against innocent civilians and urges the government and the country’s all political factions to “immediately and fully” end all acts of violence, and quickly restore stability and normal social order, he said.

The ambassador said China calls on the Syrian government to pay serious heed to the people’s legitimate desire for reform and development and calls on the various political factions in Syria to express their political aspirations through non-violent means under the rule of law.

China also urges all parties concerned in Syria to immediately launch inclusive political dialogue with no preconditions attached, and jointly discuss a comprehensive political reform plan and mechanism, Wang said, adding China calls for the holding of referendum on the draft of a new Constitution and parliamentary election at an early date and establishment of a national unity government participated by various factions.

“We understand the concern of Arab countries and the League of Arab States on seeking a quick solution to the Syrian issue. We value the important role of Arab countries and the League of Arab States in seeking a political solution to the issue of Syria,” the Chinese ambassador said.

China appreciates “efforts made by Arab countries and the League of Arab States for a political solution to the Syrian issue,” he added.

“We support the position of Arab countries that violence should be stopped immediately, that civilians in Syria should be protected in real earnest, that humanitarian assistance should be given to Syria, and that external military intervention should be avoided. We hope the Syrian issue will be resolved within the framework of the League of Arab States through political and peaceful means,” he said.

China believes the international community should fully respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, the independent choice of the Syrian people, as well as the result of political dialogue among various parties of Syria, said Wang, adding China does not approve of armed intervention or forcing a so-called “regime change” in Syria.

Meanwhile, the ambassador also said China does not believe sanctions or the threat of sanctions is helpful to achieving an appropriate solution.

He said actions of the international community and the UN on the Syria issue should be helpful to easing tensions, facilitating political dialogue and resolving differences, adding China’s vote is in accordance with the above-mentioned position.

“China is a responsible country and a friend of the Arab people. China has always followed the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations,” he said.

“China takes an objective, just and responsible stance on the issue of Syria. China is willing to maintain communication with the government and various political factions of Syria, as well as the Arab countries and the League of Arab States. China will work together with the international community and play a positive and constructive role to appropriately resolve the issue of Syria,” the ambassador added.